Adopt a Koala
Adopt a Koala and become a Zoo Parent to help protect these iconic Australian animals in the wild for future generations.
Koala
Scientific namePhascolarctos cinereus
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable
Koalas (gulamany in Sydney First Language) are recognised around the world as a unique Australian icon. They hold an important place in Aboriginal culture through shared stories, dance, and rock art, and today serve as a key ambassador for habitat preservation.
Sydney
Dubbo
Visitor tips for Sydney
See Koalas in Nura Diya, our Australian habitat.
Koala Encounter
11:00am - 12:55pm
Keeper Talk
2:30pm
Other good times to visit
9:30am
Fun facts about Koalas
19hrs
the number of hours Koalas spend a day having a snooze.
10 years
the average number of years Koalas can live in the wild.
1 kg
is the amount of leaves a koala eats every day.
10kg
the average weight of a Koala.
Australia’s coastlines
where koalas are found across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
85cm
Koalas can grow between 60 and 85 cm tall.
19hrs
the number of hours Koalas spend a day having a snooze.
10 years
the average number of years Koalas can live in the wild.
1 kg
is the amount of leaves a koala eats every day.
10kg
the average weight of a Koala.
Australia’s coastlines
where koalas are found across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.
85cm
Koalas can grow between 60 and 85 cm tall.
Did you know?
We bet you didn't know these facts about these iconic Australian animals.
Tap the icons
Scroll across to reveal Koala facts.
Koalas are not bears!
Although commonly called Koala Bears, their closest relative is actually the Wombat.
Jellybean joey
When a Koala joey is born, it has no fur, and is the size of a jellybean. The tiny, furless jellybean joey must make its way to the mother's pouch, all on its own.
A mother's love
A Koala joey will stay in the pouch for up to 7 months, and will stick by mum’s side for 1-3 years.
Picky eaters
Koalas will only eat the fresh tips or new growth of eucalyptus leaves. There are over 700 varieties of eucalyptus, but Koalas will only eat 50 – they're fussy eaters!
Comfy Koala
Koalas have a specially formed piece of cartilage to cushion their bum from uncomfortable tree branches.
Thumbs up
A koala’s fingers and toes are called digits. Their front paws have five digits, including two thumb-like ones for grasping trees and food, while two fused digits on the back paws help with grooming.
Marvellous marsupials
Although in appearance they may look bear-like, Koalas are marsupial mammals, meaning they give birth to live young that develop in a pouch. When born, Koala joeys are without fur, blind and about the size of a jellybean. The joey uses their sense of smell and touch to make their way into the mother's pouch where they’ll attach to a teat and suckle milk. A Koala joey can stay in the mother's pouch for up to seven months and will often stick close to mum for anywhere between 1 and 2 years.
Koalas eat the fresh tips or new growth of eucalyptus leaves, and need about a kilogram’s worth of leaves each day. There is over 900 different varieties of eucalyptus, but of those only about 25-50 species are eaten by koalas as a food source. This often makes it tricky for these unique animals to get the nutrition they need. During times of drought when there is little or no rain, there is no fresh growth and koalas often have to travel further distances to find food and water.
Processing eucalyptus leaves is tough work, which is part of the reason you’ll often see Koalas having a snooze. Koalas are expert sleepers, and can spend up to 18-20 hours a day catching their Z’s. Sitting in a tree for such long hours could be quite painful. Luckily Koalas have a specially formed piece of cartilage to cushion their bum from uncomfortable tree branches.
Getting a good grip is very important when the majority of your life is spent up high in the trees. That’s why Koala’s have five digits on their front paws – two of which act like our thumbs to help them hold firmly to branches and grasp food. On their back paws, two of their digits are fused together to help them groom and scratch.
Koalas have had a tough go of it lately. Habitat loss remains the greatest threat to these beautiful marsupials. With suitable environments shrinking, and forests only able to support a finite number of Koalas, populations are being fragmented, making it harder for Koalas to find food and breed. Disease and climate change events such as drought and bushfires have also had a devastating impact. That’s why Taronga is prioritising the conservation of Koala as an animal of utmost importance to the Australian landscape.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Vulnerable
Protecting Koalas
Habitat loss remains the greatest threat to these beautiful marsupials. With suitable environments shrinking, and forests only able to support finite number of Koalas, populations are being fragmented. This makes it harder for Koalas to find food and breed. Disease and climate change events such as drought and bushfires have also had a devastating impact. That’s why Taronga is prioritising the conservation of the Koala as an animal of utmost importance to the Australian landscape.
Breeding programs
Taronga hosts the species breeding program for Koalas through the Zoos and Aquarium Association (ZAA). We work with experts across Australasia to manage animal populations, not just to breed, but also support important husbandry knowledge, safeguarding this species for the future.
Fact sheets for kids
Discover educational resources for Kindergarten to year 6!
More to explore
Koala Encounter
Meet one of Australia’s most iconic animals up close at Taronga Zoo Sydney and learn how Koalas sleep, feed and survive in the wild.
Wildlife Retreat
Wake up with Koala's outside your window while relaxing in stylish, comfortable accommodation at the Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, with immersive wildlife experiences and views across Sydney Harbour.
